Orange Moon Friday, March 29, 2024 "Has It Come To That?"

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…

"Has It Come To That?"

"We do well to seek our Father's guidance, leading us to the throne of grace about the matters of life in which He is present, willing, and actively involved.  This includes everything."

      A Christian once recounted a particular difficulty to a friend. "I tried this. I tried that. I tried this and that" said the troubled man about efforts to solve his problem. "But finally, well, finally, I just had to pray about it!"  The other gentleman, realizing with alarm the severity of his friend's plight, mournfully shook his head and responded with a sympathetic sigh, "Oh my, has it come to that?!"

   The story always elicits a chuckle. Then, the realization sets in regarding how easy it is for all of us to act as if prayer involves a last resort rather than a first response.  Of course, this does not mean that we must specifically pray about everything we do before we act.  Life comes at us fast and furious, and often we must respond to matters in the moment.  Such occasions are likely covered by God's answers to prayers we have previously prayed, perhaps at the beginning of the day.

    "My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up." (Psalm 5:3). 

   Prior prayers, whether at the beginning of the day or at other times in our lives, likely serve as the requests God often answers in the moment, as the matters of life arise.  Indeed, who can say that in this day, our Heavenly Father may answer a request for His grace we offered years ago, addressing a present need based on prayers we offered in the realm of time, but which He answers in the context of eternity?  Certainly, we seek to be current in our praying, and the possibility of neglect in prayer constitutes a real challenge every believer must confront.  "Ye have not because ye ask not" (James 4:2).  The truth remains, however, that a faithful God proceeds in answering prayers His children have forgotten we ever prayed.  

   Regarding all things in our lives, it has come to that - "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).  We do well to seek our Father's guidance leading us to the throne of grace about the matters of life in which He is present, willing, and actively involved.  This includes everything.  Thus, we pray, being confident He will answer our requests that accord with His will (I John 5:14).  His provisions will come our way according to His perfect timing, meaning that some answers will result from prayers we remember offering, and some from prayers we forgot that we prayed (but which our Father does not forget to answer).

"For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers."

(I Peter 3:12)

Weekly Memory Verse

    "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name." 

(Hebrews 13:15)

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